Kit cars info

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Yes kit cars, I've been looking at buying a Tiger Cat E1. I'd love to build something like a GBS zero, but its more expensive and I haven't got the room sadly. Anyway, has anyone got any recommendations as I'm going to view one this Sunday, anything to look out for? Anything I should know? I know people say they're too heavy but for reference I drive a 105 bhp Alfa MiTo, and it'll be my first sports car, so let's face it a 2L pinto in a 630kg car is going to feel rapid.
Any extra info would be much appreciated, cheers!

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Cheers for the replies, there's a few things you mentioned that I hadn't thought. One more question though, should it be on a Q plate? Some are and some aren't? Or what's the deal? Will it being on a Q plate change the insurance in anyway? I've got a quote from Adrian Flux and waiting on an email from Graham Sykes, so both kit car insurers.
Cheers for the help all

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Oh yeah? That's bloody good aha. Yeah I know its harder to insure a Q plate in the normal car world, but wasn't sure whether it made a difference when you're insuring kit cars cause theyre a bit niche anyway.
I did have A-Plan down on the list of compamies to try actually, but as I'm 19 I'm not think its gonna be so cheap haha

This would be the one I'm looking at BTW, love the fact its bright orange and hopefully it'll stand out a bit so I'll be seen on the road, I've heard stories of people being pulled out on constantly in darker cars. Ive also read that caterham strongly advise a bright colour for that reason so

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/141989053174?_mwBanner=1

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

So thanks for all the advice, you're all a very helpful bunch
So I bought the one I said I was going to, and I bloody love it :P

Spec wise; it seems to have been built to a good standard, but the other owners (all 9 of them) didn't look after it as it deserved with bodywork etc. As I said, 2L pinto, twin 40 dellorto carbs, Kent cams FR32 camshaft, type 9 'box. Disks all round, 13" wheels. Spax adjustable coilovers all round. Toyo 888's. High back GRP bucket seats. Removable steering wheel. Other bits and bobs like welded coolant tank and oil catch tank.

Came with a roof and doors and a torneau cover, but not the windscreen so the doors and roof dont have anything to fix to, and the cover doesn't fit due to the seats being the high back type, so I'll probably be selling those at some point.

Brakes are a bit pants, but start to get a little better when you get some heat into them, still needs new pads and fluid though, maybe disks too we'll see.

My idea is to drive in the summer (not going well at the minute) and tidy up/fix/replace or whatever in the winter, that said, if it's drivable and not raining what's a bit of cold eh?

So yeah, at the minute its sat on ramps cause I've been trying to sort the oil leak, its a tiny pin hole or two in the sump, just where its been welded (when it was shortened). But I've got some JB Weld on there to see if that does anything, just a hit quicker than taking it off and getting it welded etc. Plus cheaper too
When this is being done its having new oil and a new filter too. Hopefully I'll be driving it again soon!
Oh I forgot to mention the alternator plug was buggered so I had to get a new one of those too, however I broke down before realising that it was that big of a problem at first it seemed to hold charge when driving so yeah

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

I can't work out how to resize an image so it posts so I'll have to make do with a link.

https://goo.gl/photos/jiVEJFgjQK1guJ5V9

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

CrutyRammers said:

Might be nothing wrong with the brakes, if it's got big discs and track pads on it, they will often require a bit of heat getting into them before they work properly. Mine are the same.

I don't know what pads it has, but its got the ford single pot girling calipers up front and so I'd say standard disks, again idk about the back yet. But yeah, I think that could be the case, cause cold they're basically none existent. But I'd does need new pads at the front cause they're low anyway, any recommendations? I've heard great stuff about some mintex ones, I can't remember which right now, but I can't get them for the girling calipers anyway -_- and greenstuff I've heard are a bit marmite, some people love them, some people can't stand them

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Resto157 said:

Mintex 1144 pads I run on my Westfield and they are great for track and road. I used to own his car when it was green and yellow.

Those were the ones! But yeah I can't find them for the calipers its got, idk if I haven't looked hard enough?

I may have misunderstood, but you used to own my car? Cause I know mine started life as green. If you did, I'd love to know more about its history

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Ah right, now that is interesting, I bought it off Scott (or a birmingham lad called scott anyway, cause having looked at the V5 its had 10 previous owners, making me the 11th) and he said he had it for a year, the wheels on it look brand new, and I did think what had been done cause the calipers look recently refurbed. But yeah that all makes sense, I wonder why he wanted 13" s on it rather than having 15" s and the big brakes?
Cheers for the info

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

Haha, wow, that's quite different thanks for the photo